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EQUINE MICROCHIP INITIATIVE

In an effort to promote premises and animal identification, the Department of Agriculture has announced that horse owners can obtain a $25 credit on their Veterinary Service account through participating Tennessee License Veterinarians when the veterinarian implants a radio frequency identification microchip into the animal.

The equine microchip provides a means of permanent identification for the horse and can be used as a form of official identification for regulatory work and a way to positively identify a lost or stolen horse.

Veterinarians wanting to participate in the Equine Microchip Initiative will receive $25 per horse implanted with a TDA-approved microchip.  The Equine Species working group has recommended to the USDA that veterinarians use 134.2 megahertz microchips.  Therefore TDA encourages the use of the 134.2 chip.

The premises where the horse resides must be registered with the National Animal Identification System for the owner to receive the $25 credit.

For veterinarians to receive payment, thy need to submit the following:

The Record of Microchip Implantation Form

A substitute W-9 form and an Automated Clearing House Form for the State of Tennessee payment process, if they have not previously submitted these to:

Tennessee Department of Agriculture
Ellington Agricultural Center
Attn: Jennifer Bowers
Box 40627
Nashville, TN 37204

For more information call Jennifer Bowers at (615) 837-5189 or Dr. Charlie Hatcher at (615) 837-5183.